Governments across the world are conducting cross-border investigations and cooperating with each other to identify and prosecute tax evasion and other economic crimes that drain government coffers. The targets of these cross-border investigations include not only the taxpayers themselves, but also the domestic and foreign financial institutions and other entities and individuals who are believed to have facilitated the taxpayers’ conduct.

Initially viewed only as a U.S. law enforcement priority, the success of the United States’ efforts has spurred multiple foreign countries into action, prompting them to enact rules, regulations and legislation to increase transparency and prevent abusive conduct within their financial systems.